At stake in this election:      

• 20 seats in the Senate*

*Though normally only 10 seats would be elected at a time, the Senate has been operating with only 20 of 30 seats filled due to cancelled elections.[1] 

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Michel MARTELLY
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Laurent LAMOTHE
• Assembly: Haiti has a bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) consisting of the Senate with 30 seats and the Chamber of Deputies with 99 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
• In the Senate 30 members are elected by popular vote to serve 6-year terms**. In the Chamber of Deputies 99 members are elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms.

**Normally, one-third of the Senate is elected every two years.

Main parties in the electoral race***:

• Party: Farmers' Response Party / Repons Peyizan
• Leader: Michel MARTELLY
• Party: Popular Patriotic Dessalinien Movement / Mouvement Patriotique Populaire Dessalinien (MOPOD)
• Leaders: Samuel MADISTIN, Mirlande H. MANIGAT,[2] Turneb DELPE[3]
• Party: G18 Policy Platform / Plateforme Politique G18
• Leader: Joseph WUILSON[4]
• Party: Defile Pati Politik Fanm Ak Fanmi (Political Parties Women and Families)
• Leader: Marie Rebecca GUILLAUME[5]
• Party: Konbit Travaye Peyizan Pou Libere Ayiti (Kontra Pep La)
•  Leader: Jean William JEANTY[6]
• Party: Consortium National des Partis Politiques Haitiens (CNPPH)
•       Leader: Jeantel JOSEPH[7]
• Party: AYITI AN AKSYON (HAITI'S ACTION)
• Leader: Youri LATORTUE[8]
• Party: Respe (RESPECT)
• Leader: Charles Henry BAKER[9]
• Party: Ligue Alternative pour le Progres et l’Emancipation Haitienne
• Leader: Jean Hector ANACACIS[10]
• Party: Pont (Pou Nou Tout)
• Leader: Dr. Evalliere Beauplan[11]
• Party: Reseau Bouclier National
• Leader: Jodson Leroy ROSEMOND[12]
• Party: Konvansyon Inite Demokratik (KID)
• Leader: Enold JOSEPH[13]
• Party: Platfom Pitit Dessalines
• Leader: Amogene CHARLES[14]
• Party: Oganizasyon Pep Kap Lite
• Leader: Pierree Paul Dit Harry MARSAN[15]
• Party: Renmen Ayiti
• Leader: Jean Henry CEANT[16]
• Party: Parti Fusion Des Sociaux-Democrates Haitiens
• Leader: Edmonde Supplice BEAUZILE[17]
• Party: Fanmi Lavalas
• Leader: Maryse NARCISSE[18]
• Party: Verite
• Leader: Genard JOSEPH[19]
• Party: Parti Haitien Tet Kale
• Leader: Marie Yanick MEZILE[20]
• Party: Ansanm Patriyot pou Lavni Ayiti (APLA)
• Party: Inite Patriyotik

***Approximately 125 political parties have registered for the election.[21] 

Last election:

• The last election for the Senate was held on 9 August 2015, where 1,046,516 votes were cast and voter turnout was 18%. No senators were elected at this time, leaving all 20 seats open for the second round.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 9,996,731 (2014 est.)[22]
• Registered Voters: 5,871,450 (2015)[23]

Gender Data:

• Female Population: 5,035,655 (2014 est.)[24]
• Is Haiti a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)
• Has Haiti ratified CEDAW: Yes (20 July 1981)[25]
• Gender Quota:  Yes[26]
• Female Candidates in this election: Yes
• Number of Female Legislators: 4 (4%) of 99 seats in the Chamber of Deputies[27]
• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 168[28]
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium[29]

Disability Data:

• Is Haiti a signatory to CRPD: No
• Has Haiti ratified CRPD: Yes (23 July 2009)[30]